Celtics coach Doc Rivers will attend the NBA Draft in Newark, N.J., to watch son Austin, who is expected to be a lottery pick after one season at Duke.

By Jim Fenton

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jim Fenton

Posted Jun. 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 28, 2012 at 9:38 AM

By Jim Fenton

Posted Jun. 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 28, 2012 at 9:38 AM

WALTHAM

» Social News

He has taken part in the NBA Draft a dozen times as the head coach of the Orlando Magic and the Celtics.

For Doc Rivers, the annual June event has become a routine happening on his calendar.

That, however, will not be the case tonight for Rivers and his family when the 2012 draft takes place.

Rivers’ third child, Austin, is expected to be a lottery pick after a standout career at Winter Park High School in Florida and one season at Duke University where he averaged 15.5 points.

Mock drafts have Austin Rivers, who turns 20 in August, being selected by the Toronto Raptors at No. 8, the New Orleans Hornets at No. 10, the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 11 or the Phoenix Suns at No. 13.

Doc Rivers will be with his son at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., watching him walk across the stage to shake hands with Commissioner David Stern.

The Celtics have two first-round picks, Nos. 21 and 22, and Rivers will stay in contact with the team via phone from New Jersey.

“Doc has been here all week, so we’re getting all our ducks in a row, so to speak,” said president of basketball operations Danny Ainge on Wednesday morning. “He’s headed to New York with Austin, which is where he should be. He’ll be on the ‘Bat’ phone and we’ll be communicating throughout the draft.”

Ainge said that because Austin Rivers has played with or against a number of players in this year’s draft, Doc Rivers has been able to add even more insight that usual.

“He’s certainly on top of what’s going on with his son, Austin, and he knows where we stand on all of our opinions,” said Ainge. “Doc knows this draft better than he’s known any other draft since he’s been here just because of all the kids who have played with Austin in AAU and against him. So he has a lot to offer for us in this year’s draft.”

According to the league, this will mark the 11th straight year the son of a former NBA player will be drafted. The list includes Mike Dunleavy (2002), Luke Walton (2003), Jackson Vroman (2004), Sean May (2005), Ronnie Brewer (2006), Al Horford (2007), Patrick Ewing Jr. (2008), Stephen Curry, Gerald Henderson Jr. and Austin Daye (2009), Ed Davis (2010) and Klay Thompson and Nolan Smith (2011).

“I’m happy for him, I really am,” said Doc Rivers of his son during the season. “I think he’s good enough to be a good player for a long time.”

Pietrus eyes return: Free agent Mickael Pietrus was at the team’s workout facility doing rehab work after undergoing right knee surgery on June 13.

Page 2 of 2 - Pietrus, who joined the Celtics last December, wants to re-sign with the team.

“I feel like I’m home, hanging out with the Celtics,” said Pietrus. “I think it’s going to be a very good summer for me and the Celtics. I’m excited. Hopefully, my agent and Danny can work out and deal and I’ll be a Celtic forever.”

Pietrus underwent knee surgery for the second year in a row but is optimistic he will be at full strength next season.

“I feel so much better,” he said. “I look forward to being on the floor with my teammates, working out. I can do pretty much everything, not running. I have confidence in my knee. It shouldn’t be a problem any more. I’ll be back flying again.”

Around the rim: Ainge would not comment on the NBA awarding the Celtics a 2013 second-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a dispute in the Jeff Green trade. The Celtics will receive a pick that was originally held by the Charlotte Bobcats. … Ainge shot down an ESPN report that the Celtics have promised Iowa State forward Royce White he will be one of their first-round picks.